Ultra-basic canada goose decoy spread: socks vs sillouettes, etc?

[BigDuckHunter]

@BigDuckHunter thanks a ton for the pics and insight, thats really helpful.

Also, when I figure out how to make that 2-story duck blind with a kitchen in pop-up form to fit in my kayak I’ll be a gazillionaire! Seriously, I am a little surprised there isnt more lightweight/packable blinds out there. The go-to ones I see people recommending are pretty big and heavy. Is portability for walk-in or kayak-in just not that common? Any good suggestions with that in mind?

Haha when you figure that out I’ll be your first customer! Like I said earlier, what is best really depends on what you’re hunting. Are you hunting from your kayak or just paddling to dry land and hunting from there? Also, what kind of cover is around where you’re hunting?

 

[Macintosh]

Haha when you figure that out I’ll be your first customer! Like I said earlier, what is best really depends on what you’re hunting. Are you hunting from your kayak or just paddling to dry land and hunting from there? Also, what kind of cover is around where you’re hunting?

Some of both. Its when the water line is far away from shore (low water) and/or vegetation is very sparse. Something like a sandbar either just peeking out of the water or just under, with sparse bullrushes or sparse grass—definitely not enough grass to hide in the way you can just tuck into cattails.

This is not my picture, I just found it online. The low grass in the back is pretty similar to where I found birds a bunch this year, and it was often a long ways from any thicker/taller cover. If anything what I found was more sparse. I think on dry-ish ground as shown a layout blind might be the best bet, but it was often in 3 to 6 inches of water so just trying to figure out how to set up in conditions like that. Maybe something like a layout blind for the kayak, or something like whats pictured? Im not sure how “good” the pictured hide is either—better than what we had, but it seems like it’d stand out to me.

 

[BigDuckHunter]

Some of both. Its when the water line is far away from shore (low water) and/or vegetation is very sparse. Something like a sandbar either just peeking out of the water or just under, with sparse bullrushes or sparse grass—definitely not enough grass to hide in the way you can just tuck into cattails.

This is not my picture, I just found it online. The low grass in the back is pretty similar to where I found birds a bunch this year, and it was often a long ways from any thicker/taller cover. If anything what I found was more sparse. I think on dry-ish ground as shown a layout blind might be the best bet, but it was often in 3 to 6 inches of water so just trying to figure out how to set up in conditions like that. Maybe something like a layout blind for the kayak, or something like whats pictured? Im not sure how “good” the pictured hide is either—better than what we had, but it seems like it’d stand out to me.

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I can’t see what it looks like from overhead but from this picture the outline is broken up pretty well which is what you’re going for. It definitely does stick out as far as being high profile and a different color of grass. But there could be bunches of the grass he’s hidden in that look just like it scattered across the marsh. If that’s the case the birds probably aren’t going to mind.

In your situation, a layout on the dry ground might be best. It’s hard to brush them really well with stuff that’s all vertical. The ones that are a little taller with vertical sides I think work the best for that sometimes. You’ll just have to spend a lot of time gathering weeds for it.

If you’re wanting to hide in shallow water, an invisiman might work. I’ve never used one but seem some pictures that make it look like one might work for your situation. I put a picture down below of one.

Another thing I wonder about would be getting a big canvas tarp or something that mud would stick to really well and caking that with mud and just laying under it. Would definitely be messy but I think you could lay some logs under it or something in a way that it doesn’t just drape across and outline you and the color would be spot on. I’ve done something similar in a field that’s been plowed before and it worked pretty well.

 

[spur60]

I run my kayak in sparse/short cover a fair amount. A simple ghilli blanket style cover and laying in my kayak is sufficient in many instances, and if I need to hunt from a mud flat I can use the same cover if I don't want to pack in a layout or the A-frame. I can roll the entire cover up and stuff it in the storage box of the beavertail stealth accessory chair. Pressured mallards might pick me out and flair off from time to time, but most ducks are pretty dumb up here in SD. Movement and your uncovered face will flair way more birds than a slightly unnatural looking blind.

 

[Macintosh]

Thanks @spur60 !!
What kayak?
Any details of the blind, is it a DIY or is it a Purchased one? Is that just one of those perforated, nylon sheets, with raffia zip tied to it?
Got a picture of the kayak rigged up with a person and gear in it? Wondering how you carry decoys and any other equipment with the blind, or did I understand that you completely remove the blind when paddling?

Love to hear details.

 

[kpk]

I usually had the best luck running about 18-24 full bodies and being directly on the X. That worked really well early into mid season. Once larger spreads were needed we'd start to build out using shells and then silos.

 

[spur60]

Thanks @spur60 !!
What kayak?
Any details of the blind, is it a DIY or is it a Purchased one? Is that just one of those perforated, nylon sheets, with raffia zip tied to it?
Got a picture of the kayak rigged up with a person and gear in it? Wondering how you carry decoys and any other equipment with the blind, or did I understand that you completely remove the blind when paddling?

Love to hear details.

I'm terrible about taking pictures but I'll address your questions as best as I can.

Kayak is a beavertail stealth 1200. Probably the most stable unit on the market. I stand it in all the time sight fishing bass, shooting carp, push poling through cattails, etc. Main cons are that it's heavy, and doesn't track very straight if you're paddling.
I have my boat rigged with a 50 pound thrust 12V trolling motor mounted on the SwampRatt transom mount for Beavertail boats. TM is powered by a 100ah lithium battery. I can run nearly 6 mph with gun, 2 dozen decoys, blind bag, etc.

Blind is just some waterproof camo netting with raffia zip tied to it. I can roll it up and stuff it away really easy. Which is what I do. I have the Beavertail accessory seat that has a storage box built in and that's where I stash the blind when I'm moving to/from spots. I cut two separate pieces that stay more permanently affixed to the front and rear storage compartment lids
Honestly, if you use boats like this and set up in reeds/cattails with some overhead coverage, you don't even need a blind. Keep your face out of the sun; the ducks don't care much about a random boat shape in the grass.

As far as carrying decoys and gear, that depends; generally I can carry 2 dozen duck floaters no problem in the kayak with me. If I take goose floaters, Goose silhouettes, duck socks, etc for sandbar/mudflat/loafing setups, I just pile more decoys in my otter sled and pull that behind the kayak. (sled floats great.)

If we decide to do a semi-permanent snow goose decoy spread this spring on a pasture pond, I'll have to get the stealth out to set floater decoys and for bird retrieval so I can snap some pics of it in action.

 

[Sandhills]

I'd get some shells if it were me. I never had an issue killing geese over em, and the ones I used to hunt in California were pretty pressured. I used standard size and 747s